It's for India and Pakistan to address Kashmir issue: Top US official John Kirby

WASHINGTON: The US has no role to play in Kashmir issue and it is for India and Pakistan to address the problem through dialogue, a top American official has said, a day after visiting Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif raised the matter with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Expressing concern over violence on the line of control, State Department Spokesman John Kirby said both India and Pakistan should resume dialogue to address their issues.

"As for Kashmir, all I would say is we continue be concerned about any violence along the line of control, and we continue to urge the governments of both India and Pakistan to reduce tensions along that line and to resume dialogue to address these issues," Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference.

"This (Kashmir) is for the two parties to work out," Kirby said in response to a question.

Sharif met with Kerry at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department yesterday and raised the Kashmir issue during his meeting focused on security-related issues and Afghanistan peace talks.

"What I can tell you is that he met yesterday with Chief of Army Staff Sharif to follow up on some of the security-related conversations that he had with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in October," Kirby said.

"The general's consultations in Washington were part of our regular, ongoing, bilateral discussions with a broad range of Pakistani officials, and we appreciate the productive discussions we had regarding our bilateral defense and security relationship," he said.

"The Secretary reaffirmed our commitment to the US-Pakistan partnership and its importance in addressing issues of mutual concern and ensuring peace, stability and prosperity across the region," Kirby added.